"Gender testing is a slippery slope": Transgender athlete Nikki Hiltz denounces future genetic testing planned for the September World Championships

Hiltz, an American national, was assigned female at birth but came out as transgender and non-binary in 2021 and uses gender-neutral pronouns.

"Gender testing is a slippery slope," Hiltz said after clinching her ticket to the World Championships in Tokyo with her victory in the women's 1,500m on Saturday at the U.S. trials in Eugene, Oregon.

World Athletics, the international athletics federation, adopted a new regulation on Wednesday requiring genetic testing for competitors wishing to compete in the women's category, starting at the World Championships.

This test , carried out by oral swab or blood analysis, is " to be taken only once in a lifetime" and "allows biological sex to be reliably determined" , according to the Federation.

"Obviously, I'm going to do it. I'm not going to protest or anything. I just don't like the precedent it sets," said Hiltz, who said he feared more invasive techniques within other federations.

The athlete called for "this time, energy and money" to be spent on the problems of "violent coaches" or "doping allegations" .

Detect the SRY gene

The World Athletics test will detect the SRY gene, a gene on the Y chromosome responsible for the development of male characteristics.

If the test is negative for the Y chromosome, the athlete is allowed to compete in the women's category in competitions counting towards the world ranking.

If positive, the athlete can only compete in the women's category in competitions that do not count towards the world ranking, or in a category other than women's.

The athletics world has long considered introducing eligibility criteria for women's events , amid questions about the biological advantages of transgender athletes or those with variations of sex development.

Transgender women who have experienced male puberty are currently banned by World Athletics from competing in women's events.

The federation also requires female athletes whose bodies produce high levels of testosterone to take medication to reduce them in order to be eligible.